The Swiss Challenge has produced some dramatic moments and fantastic winners on the European Challenge Tour. In 2021, the Swiss Challenge was uniquely held in France at Golf Saint Apollinaire, close to the Swiss border.
Del Rey makes history
Alejandro Del Rey made professional golf history at the 2021 Swiss Challenge, carding a 14 under par round of 58 – the lowest-ever score to par on a major golf tour.
Del Rey joined an exclusive club of golfers who have carded rounds of 58 on major tours, with the Spaniard joining Jim Furyk (PGA TOUR, 2016), Stephan Jäger (Korn Ferry Tour, 2016), Ryo Ishikawa (Japan Golf Tour, 2010) and Kim Seong-hyeon (Japan Golf Tour, 2021) – all of their rounds were 12 under par on par 70 golf courses.
In the Challenge Tour’s history just two rounds of 59 had been carded, with Adrien Mörk and Nicolò Ravano achieving the feat in 2006 and 2016 respectively, while on the DP World Tour, a score of 59 has been achieved just once – by Oliver Fisher in 2018 at the Portugal Masters.
Baker’s double
Peter Baker secured victory at the 2007 Swiss Challenge after posting a 20 under par total to finish one shot ahead of Scotland’s Andrew McArthur in Wylihof and the Englishman graduated from the Challenge Tour that year after finishing 12th in the Rankings. The 1993 Ryder Cup player made history repeat itself when he won the Swiss Challenge in 2009, again at Wylihof Golf Club, becoming the first player to win the event twice.
Helligkilde brilliance
2021 Road to Mallorca Number One Marcus Helligkilde picked up his second Challenge Tour title at the Swiss Challenge at Golf Saint Apollinaire last season. The Dane posted a sensational 25 under par total to finish one shot clear of countryman Nicolai Kristensen and England’s Jonathan Thomson.
Helligkilde went on to triumph at the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A and be crowned Road to Mallorca Number One.
